Thermoregulation

• Thermoregulatory center


  Part of the brain that monitors and controls body temperature
• Thermoregulatory center


  • Contains receptors sensitive to the temperature of the blood
  • Receives electrical impulses from temperature receptors in the skin
• Body temperature gets too high


  Sweat glands secrete sweat onto skin surface, which evaporates and cools the body
• Body temperature gets too high


  Blood vessels in skin dilate (vasodilation), allowing more blood flow and heat transfer out of the body
• Body temperature drops too low

  Blood vessels in skin constrict (vasoconstriction), reducing blood flow and heat loss
• Body temperature drops too low


  Skeletal muscles contract and increase respiration to generate heat (shivering)
• Body temperature drops too low


  Sweating stops to prevent further heat loss
• The thermoregulatory center detects changes in body temperature from the normal value and triggers responses to restore it
• Control of body temperature is an example of homeostasis